Sukkot

Scripture

Old Testament / Hebrew Bible

New Testament

Notes

Exodus presents Sukkot as the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the agricultural year. Leviticus adds the command to live in booths so future generations will remember Israel's experience after the Exodus.

Deuteronomy emphasizes joy. Families were to celebrate together and include servants, Levites, foreigners, orphans and widows.

First Kings records the dedication of Solomon's Temple during the festival season. Nehemiah describes the building of booths after the Jewish people returned from exile.

Zechariah gives Sukkot a remarkable future setting. The prophet pictures nations coming to Jerusalem to worship the Lord and celebrate the festival.

John 7 is the principal New Testament passage. Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles and taught in Jerusalem. His invitation concerning living water is especially meaningful against the festival's Second Temple water ceremonies.

John 8:12 records Jesus calling Himself the light of the world. The great Temple lamps used during Sukkot provide an interesting historical background, although John does not explicitly state that Jesus was referring to that ceremony.

Revelation uses images that recall several Sukkot themes. These include palm branches, God dwelling with His people and the promise that they will no longer thirst. These parallels are worth noticing, but the passages do not identify themselves as direct references to Sukkot.